From Guest Blogger Penny Olmos: Harnessing Solar Power for Your Homes

Energy bills are soaring and there seems to be very little you can do about it. Fossil fuels are our primary source of energy and are getting depleted really fast. It has become our responsibility and obligation to preserve and protect our natural resources to leave a better earth for our future generations.

Fortunately, people worldwide are opting to go solar in order to reduce the burden of enormous power bills. This gives you the satisfaction of doing your bit for the environment as well. Solar panels transform you from a power-grid dependent consumer to a self-sufficient generator of electricity. But setting up a residential solar power system is not as easy or simple as drawing your power from the grid.

Let’s have a look at the points you need to keep in mind when opting to go green for your power needs.

Insolation

All regions and homes receive a different amount of sunlight. You need to have an exact idea of how much sunlight reaches the ground level in your area. Insolation is the measure of the solar radiation that hits a given area on the ground during a specified period of time. It is typically measured in KWh/m2/day and the higher the value for your location, the more power your panels will generate. It is the solar energy your potential solar home will be able to harness and the success of your green venture depends largely on this. Southwestern regions enjoy plenty of sunlight and can hence have quite profitable solar energy systems. Arizona has far better insolation values as compared to Chicago.

A high insolation value ensures your solar panels’ superior power generation capacity. Increased productivity of individual panels means you get more electricity out of each installed solar panel. Conversely if you are in a low insolation-value area you may have to spend more on solar panels to get the desired energy output. The number of panels required to be installed in such areas increases considerably.

This shows that sunlight is the key determinant in the effectiveness of solar power generation.

Location and Surroundings

If your house is located in a shady, green nook surrounded by tall trees your solar panels will receive little sunlight. Towering buildings also cast shadows, which is definitely not going to supplement your electricity generation. The efficiency of solar panels depends on the amount of sunlight falling on them. The longer they are exposed to sun, the better the power generation. You need to prune the trees and increase the exposure of your panels to sunlight.

There is little you can do about surrounding skyscrapers though. The shadows may decrease the efficiency of your system considerably or even prevent them from functioning. A lot depends on the kind of solar panels you choose as well.

Here are a few options you can consider.

• Monocrystalline silicon solar cells offer high efficiency (15%-20%) and have good heat tolerance characteristics. They are space –efficient and long lasting. Many manufacturers offer a warranty period of 25 years on their panels. These solar cells perform well in low-light or low-insolation conditions as well. Monocrystalline cells are more expensive than other varieties. They perform best under warm conditions and high temperatures have an adverse, though minor, effect.

• Polycrystalline silicon solar cells are priced reasonably and are simple to manufacture. They have a low efficiency (13%-16%) and a large number of panels need to be installed for generating power. Hence they are less space-efficient and are not as aesthetic as monocrystalline panels. They too under-perform when temperatures soar.

• Amorphous or thin-film silicon solar cells have a homogenous appearance and are quite appealing aesthetically. They are flexible and hence have a wide array of potential applications. High temperatures and shading does not hamper their performance greatly. Where there are no space restrictions thin film solar cells are suitable. They have low efficiencies (7%-13%) and take up a lot of space. This makes them less suitable for residential installations and they also have far shorter warranty period.

The solar panels you choose depends on your energy needs, the solar inverter used, space availability, labor costs and budget. You can take professional help or turn to the umpteen and quite good DIY solar kits available.

Expense and Maintenance

Solar panels are certainly not cheap. The median cost for installing residential solar panels range from less than $3/watt to a little above $7/watt. The total cost of installation varies according to your energy needs and the total coverage area of solar panels. An average American home consumes about 900 kilowatthours (kWh) per month. The total costs can be offset by the Federal credits you can avail and other tax benefits you obtain. Solar energy powered homes see an immediate appreciation in value and command better prices in the real estate market.

The upfront installation costs are definitely high. For a 7.5 kW solar array you can incur an expense anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000. You can go for bank loans or better still opt for leased solar panels. There are many companies offering this facility for a nominal rental fee from your side. This includes regular maintenance and upkeep as well.

Solar power panels are static. Once they are installed properly and with due care, there is very little that can go wrong. Maintenance commonly includes the periodic cleaning of the solar panels. Accumulation of bird droppings and dust on the solar panels adversely affect their energy capturing power and efficiency. Regular cleaning requires to you to simply wash the panels with a hose, and this may be required anywhere between one to four times in a year.

Conclusion

Solar energy is clean, green and free of greenhouse gas emissions. The cost of installing solar power systems have come down significantly over the past few years. Federal and state government support, easy bank loans, leasing options for solar panels and a growing environment consciousness among people have made residential solar power systems a convenient and favorable option. Getting off the grid may not be easy, but with proper planning and perseverance, it has never been more possible.

Penny Olmos is associated with Holloway Houston, Inc. a leading industrial lifting equipment manufacturing company. Her writing is backed by knowledge gained by her many years of experience partnering with clients to build their business through development and implementation of track-proven Internet marketing strategies.